A joint team of armed military and police personnel swooped on the Ho Central Mosque before dawn on Friday, January 2 to enforce the temporary closure of the mosque as ordered by the Volta Regional Security Council following last week’s shooting incident.
The security agency personnel drove away people who were at the mosque at about 2am before taking control of the area.
When Graphic Online visited the Sabong-Zango later in the day, most members of the community were indoors, while the personnel of the security agencies were on guard at the place with a significant number of police vehicles, including a mobile cell.
The Volta Regional Security Council (REGEC) on December 31, 2025 issued a statement saying the location of the mosque had been declared a crime scene to facilitate further investigation into the Boxing Day shooting incident at the place.
Subsequently, the mosque would be closed for two weeks with effect from January 1, the statement said.
The statement, signed by the Regional Minister, James Gunu, who is chairman of the REGSEC, said the decision was taken in close consultation with the Ministry of the Interior.
“The directive has been deemed essential following an urgent meeting convened by the REGSEC on Monday December 29, 2025 to address troubling developments within the Muslim community of Ho, involving two individuals asserting claims to the position of Regional Chief Imam,” the statement explained.
It further said the decision was taken in the interest of peace, unity, and the long-term neutral environment to facilitate mediation efforts aimed at resolving ongoing disputes and restoring harmony among all parties involved.
The REGSEC, the statement maintained, believed peaceful dialogue was the most powerful tool for resolving differences, and all stakeholders would be engaged constructively to achieve a lasting and amicable resolution, during the closure.
It made it clear the safety of worshippers, the sanctity of the mosque, and unity of the community remained the highest priorities to the REGSEC.
Despite the directive by the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for the temporary closure the Ho Central Mosque, the place of worship was still open, in violation of the order, as of Thursday (January 1).
When Graphic Online visited the Ho Sabong-Zango on that day, soon after the 4:00 pm, some of the doors of the mosque were open with adults and children and entering and coming out of the of the building.
It was not clear which faction gained access to the mosque.
On December 30, 2025, a joint team of police forensic experts from Accra and Ho were at the mosque to gather more evidence in aid of investigations into matter, after which the mosque was cordoned off.
On the following day, however, the tapes used to cordon of the mosque were missing.
When contacted today (Friday, January 2), the Regional Minister made it clear the closure of the mosque would be enforced without compromise.
He warned that any unruly individual or group who flouted the directive would suffer swift and ruthless consequences.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh